ROCKFORD — In March, the jobless rate of Boone and Winnebago counties declined year over year for the third straight month, according to initial estimates by the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

The Rock River Valley unemployment rate for March was 10.9 percent, compared with 12.1 percent in February and 11.8 percent in March 2013. In fact, the 2014 rate was the lowest for the month since 2008, when the rate was 8.3 percent.

The declines continue to happen because fewer people are in the workforce. Whether it be from people moving, retiring or giving up the job search, 400 fewer people were working this March compared with March 2013.

There were some positives: The service sector gained 800 jobs in March, and the leisure and hospitality sector added 400. That was more than offset, though, by the loss of 600 workers in the transportation, warehousing and utilities sector, and 200 each in the construction, retail trade and information sectors.

The largest loss, though, was in manufacturing, which had 700 fewer workers this March than March 2013 had. But there was a bright spot.

The state said “a temporary layoff” contributed to the large decline. It didn’t say what the layoff was, but we do know that Chrysler Group LLC laid off more than 300 people from its 4,500-member workforce for two weeks in March at its Belvidere assembly plant because of slow sales of the Dodge Dart.

Around the area, the city of Belvidere’s jobless rate fell from 14.9 percent in March 2013 to 14 percent this March. Boone County’s rate dropped from 13.1 percent to 12.3 percent. Winnebago County’s rate fell from 11.6 percent to 10.7 percent. The city of Rockford saw its rate drop from 12.9 percent to 12 percent.

Ogle County, which is not included in the Rockford metropolitan area, saw its rate from drop from 11.4 percent to 10.4 percent.